| Veneto for the European People's Party | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Giorgio Carollo |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | via della Meccanica, 22 36100 Vicenza |
| Newspaper | none |
| Membership (2006) | 18,000 |
| Ideology | Christian democracy |
| International affiliation | none |
| European affiliation | none |
| European Parliament Group | European People's Party–European Democrats (2006–2009) |
| Website | |
| http://www.venetoperilppe.it | |
| Politics of Veneto Political parties Elections |
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Veneto for the European People's Party (Veneto per il Partito Popolare Europeo, VPPE) is a regional christian-democratic party based in Veneto.
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It was founded in 2005 as a trans-party political movement by Giorgio Carollo, both members of Forza Italia and formerly members of Christian Democracy, alongside with members of other members of Forza Italia, Democracy is Freedom – Daisy, Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and UDEUR Populars.
At the beginning VPPE members could be part both of their original party and of VPPE. Then the political movement was organized as an independent party, but some members, as Renzo Marangon, regional minister of Territorial Affairs, continue to have a double affiliation. In 2006, Raffaele Grazia was the only one of the original group to leave Forza Italia in the Regional Council, thus forming the "Veneto for the EPP" group.[1]
In May 2007 provincial election of Vicenza, Giorgio Carollo was candidate for President with the support of parties both from the centre-left and the centre-right: Italy of Values, UDEUR Populars, Liga Fronte Veneto, Christian Democracy, some citizen' lists and his own Veneto for the EPP, which is part of the majority supporting the regional government of Giancarlo Galan in the Regional Council. He scored 9.9%, while VPPE got the 3.5% and elected 2 provincial councillors.[2]
Even if the result of Vicenza was a little disappointing for VPPE, it led to an awkward federation with Christian Democracy and Liga Fronte Veneto. The pact between the three parties, which could become a major political actor in Veneto, was signed in October 2007 by Giorgio Carollo, Raffaele Grazia, Giuseppe Pizza and Fabrizio Comencini. Following this agreement, Carollo became leader of the Christian Democracy in the North-East, while Grazia received the mandate of coordinator of the coalition for Veneto. Anyway the coalition was soon disbanded.
The party supported the Union of the Centre (UdC) of Pier Ferdinando Casini in the 2008 general election and Carollo was a candidate for the UdC in the North-East Italy constituency in the 2009 European Parliament election.[3]